melodrama

Meaning

Noun

• A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.
• A drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks
• Any situation or action which is blown out of proportion.

Origin

• From French mélodrame, the second element refashioned by analogy with drama; ultimately from Ancient Greek μέλος ("limb”, “member”, “song”, “tune”, “melody") + δρᾶμα. Compare melodrame. Cognate to German Melodram and Spanish melodrama.